Automatic electric awning



Dec. 27, 1966 A, HARTLEY ETAL 3,294,151

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC AWNING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. ANDREW G. HARTLEYOHN D. BERRY B i l ATTORNEY 1966 A. G. HARTLEY ETAL 3,294,151

AUTOMATI C ELECTRIC AWNING Filed Oct. 5, 1964 2 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTORS. 1 ANDREW G. HARTLE OHN D. ERRY BY ATTORNFY United States PatentGilice F 3,294,151 Patented Dec. 27, 1966 3,294,151 AUTGMATIC ELECTRICAWNING Andrew G. Hartley, 3433 NE. Cadet, Portland, Oreg. 97220, andJohn 1). Berry, 2074 NE. 134th Place, Portland, Greg. 97230 Filed Oct.5, 1964, Ser. No. 401,557 Claims. (Cl. 160-5) This invention relates toan automatic electrically operated awning.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide novel awningstructure including drive and control means therefor adapted to operatethe awning to either an upper or lower position depending upon thepositions of need therefor.

A more particular object is to provide an awning driven between upperand lower positions by an electric motor which is controlled in itsoperation by either an optics (light sensing) or atmospheric sensingmeans.

Another object is to provide an awning and control means of the typedescribed which employ delay mechanism in the control means whereby toaccomplish a delay prior to each raising or lowering operation so thatbrief fluctuations in weather conditions will not energize the drivemotor.

Another object is to provide an automatic awning and control meanstherefor wherein the latter is readily adjustable to vary the up anddown travel distance of the awning whereby an awning is made adaptableto various window heights.

Additional objects will become apparent from the fol lowingspecification and claims, considered together with the accompanyingdrawings wherein the numerals of reference indicate like parts.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a foreshortened front elevational view of an awning anddrive motor embodying features of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a foreshortened, fragmentary sectional view taken on theline 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE1;

FIGURE 4 is a wiring diagram including the awning drive motor andcontrol means therefor, this diagram illustrating one form of sensingcontrol;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view of a wiring diagram showing a second formof sensing control; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, foreshortened elevational view ofa limit switch included in the control means.

Referring now in particular to the drawings, and first to FIGURE 1, awindow 10, which the present awning is to cover, is shown in brokenlines. The window 10 forms a part of a building 12, also seen in FIGURE2. The awning is designated by the reference numeral 14 and is formed offlexible material such as canvas. It is mounted on a roll 16 keyed to ashaft 18 journaled at one end in a lug 20 suitably secured to thebuilding 12 and journaled at its opposite end in a side wall of a motorhousing 22, also suitably secured to the building. The awning 14 hangsvertically from the roll 20 and carries at its bottom end a cross bar 24extending beyond the side edges of the awning and having eyes 26 forslidable engagement with a pair of vertically disposed guide cables 28mounted on the building by eye bolts 30. The bar 24 is preferably metalto provide a weight at the bottom of the awning, whereby the latter willroll up neatly on the roll and will unroll freely by gravity whenreleased from the roll 16.

Shaft 18 projects into the motor housing 22 and comprises the outputshaft of a gear reduction mechanism 32, also seen in FIGURE 3, driven byan electric motor 34. The motor 34 is suitably secured integrally to thehousing 22 by a bracket 35.

Keyed to the shaft 18 interiorly of the housing is a sprocket wheel 36which is engaged by a sprocket chain 38 in turn engaging a sprocketwheel 40 keyed to a shaft 42. Shaft 42 comprises a limit control shaftwhich as will be seen in more detail hereinafter operates a limit lever.

Referring now to FIGURE 4 there is illustrated a first embodiment of acontrol system for operating the motor 34 under the influence ofexterior weather conditions, such control system being designed to lowerthe awning when the light outside is bright and at all other times toraise the awning. The control system comprises power infeed lines 44 and46, the line 44 leading to electric motor 34. Connected in series acrossthe lines 44 and 46 are sensing and circuit selecting means comprising aphoto cell 48 and a relay 50, respectively, the connecting seriescircuit comprising a wire 52 leading from the infeed line 44 to one sideof the relay 50, a wire 56 leading from the other side of said relay toone leg of the photo cell, and a wire 53 leading from the other leg ofthe photo cell to the infeed line 46. The photo cell 48 has an internalconstruction such that when energized by a selected intensity of lightthe circuit just described across the infeed lines 44 and 46 is broken.On the other hand, when the photo cell is in a deenergized condition, aswhen the sun is not shining, said circuit is closed.

Relay operates a switch arm 60 associated with a pair of contacts 62 and64. Switch arm 62 is normally held in engagement with con-tact 62 by atension spring 66 and is connected electrically to the infeed line 46 bya wire 68.

A pair of delay relays 70 and 72 are included in auxiliary circuits tobe described and have wires 74 and 76 leading from one side thereof tothe contacts 62 and 64, respectively. The other sides of relays 70 and72 are connected to infeed line 44 by a common wire 78.

Relays 70 and 72, as stated hereinbefore, comprise delay relays and maybe of the vacuum tube type wherein they remain deenergized a selectedlength of time after being subjected to a closed circuit. The delay ofthese relays is predetermined depending upon weather conditions in thearea where the awning is installed and the protection to be afforded bythe awning, and in general serve to prevent repeated operation of theelectric motor upon brief fluctuations in the weather, as will be seenmore fully hereinafter.

Relays 70 and 72 operate normally open switch arms 80 and 82,respectively, associated with respective contacts 84 and 86. Leadingfrom contacts 84 and 86 are wires 88 and 90, respectively, leading torespective motor reversing relays 92 and 94.

Switch arm 82 and switch contact 84 are interconnected by a wire 96 andconnected to'this wire by means of a wire 98 is a manually operateddouble throw switch 100. This latter switch has a pair of contacts 102and 104 connected respectively to the wires 88 and by wires 106 and 108.As will be seen, the manual switch is adapted to be closed in onedirection or the other to raise or lower the awning independent of theautomatic control means.

A lever 110 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 112 in a housing 95 alsoshown in FIGURES 1 and 3. This lever is driven by the shaft 42 in turndriven by the awning roll shaft 18 through the sprocket connection 38.The drive connection between the shaft 42 and lever 110 is accomplishedby a worm gear 114, FIGURES 4 and 6, secured to the shaft 42 andintermeshing with a toothed portion 116 on one end of the lever. Thus,operation of the shaft 42 in one direction pivots the lever one way andoperation of the shaft in the opposite direction pivots the lever theother way.

The opposite end of lever 110 from the toothed end has a pair of switchopening projections 120 and 122 in the form of stud screws. These screwsare threadedly mounted laterally in said end of the lever 110 and arearranged for engaging limit switches 124 and 126, respectively. Switches124 and 126 are incorporated in wires 88 and 90, respectively. As willbe seen more clearly hereinafter, pivotal movement of the lever 110 aselected amount in one or the other of its rotative directions engagesand opens one or the other switches 124 or 126. The threaded mounting ofthe screws 120 and 122 in the lever 110 permits adjustment thereofwhereby to open switches 124 or 126, respectively, after a selectednumber of rotations of shaft 42. This construction is to provideadjustability of movement of the awning according to the size of awindow or otherwise to vary the length of travel of the awning inopening or closing movements.

Wires 88 and 90 lead to one side of motor reversing relays 92 and 94,respectively, and the other side of these relays are connected to theinfeed line 44 by suitable connecting wires 12% and 130. Relays 92 and94 operate normally open switches 132 and 134, respectively, associatedwith multiple contacts 136 and wires 138 which lead into the motor 34and which upon selected use thereof, depending upon which relay 92 and94 is energized, cause operation of motor 34 in forward or reversedirections.

The operation of the control means of FIGURE 4 will now be described. Asstated hereinbefore relays 70 and 72 comprise delay relays and are setto close their respective switch arms $9 and 82 a selected time afterenergization of the sensing means, such as for example after threeminutes. That is, when the photo cell 48 operates to close the circuitto one of relays 70 or 72 such circuit must remain closed for at leastthree minutes before one of the auxiliary circuits which include switch80 or 82 will be energized. In the diagram of FIGURE 4, the parts areillustrated wherein the relay 70 has gone through the delay period andit has closed the switch arm 89 on the contact 84.

Thus, it will be assumed that the sun is shining or weather conditionsare sufficiently bright to actuate the photocell 48. Since the photocellopens the circuit through relay 51) when it is actuated by light, theswitch arm 60 is not influenced by the relay 50 and is pulled intoengagement with contact 62 by the spring 66. This closes the circuit todelay relay 70 through the wire 68, switch arm 60, wire 74, and wire 78.After the selected time interval of delay of relay 70 it will close theswitch arm 80 on contact 84 to close the circuit to the motor controlrelay 92. More particularly, with the switch arm 80 closed on itscontact 84 a circuit is established from infeed line 46 through wire 93,wire 96, switch arm 80 and wire 88 to the relay 92. Switch 124 is closedat this time since the actuating end of lever 110 will have stopped atits other position on the last cycle, namely, in engagement with switch126. In the diagram of FIGURE 4, and in the operation of the cycle sofar described lever 110 is in motion in the direction of arrow 140, thismotion having been started when the switch arm 80 was drawn intoengagement with its contact 84 which served to energize relay 92, inturn closing the circuit to motor 34 to start its operation in onedirection. Since it is being assumed that the circuit controlled by thephoto cell 48 is open, which means that the photo cell is exposed to abright light and it is desirable to lower the awning, the motorcircuitry is such that relay 92 causes the motor to rotate in adirection to lower the awning. The motor 34 will thus operate until thecontrol lever 110 is pivoted sufficiently to open switch 124. Opening ofthis switch breaks the circuit to the motor and the system will remaininoperative until such time that the photo cell is shaded, which closesthe circuit to relay 59, for a time suflicient to overcome the delay ofrelay 72. After the selected delay of relay 72, which would result froma generally cloudy day, for example, the switch arm 82 is drawn intoengagement with contact 86 to operate the motor 34 in the oppositedirection. This causes a rotation of the motor in a direction to raisethe awning, and such motor operates until projection 122 on the lever11L Opens switch 126, the lever 111]? in this cycle being pivoted in adirection opposite to that designated by the arrow 149.

Manual switch 1% may be closed on either of its contacts 1192 or 164 toraise or lower the awning in a hand controlled operation if desired. Itis noted in the wiring diagram that the switch 1% is connected directlyto infeed line 46 and therefore is in a circuit which bypasses photocell 48 and the delay relays 7d, 72 for direct control of the motor.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view of a second embodiment of control means,and instead of the photo cell 48 and the delay relays 711 and 72 thisembodiment utilizes a sensing assembly 144 in the form of a thermostat.This thermostat is adapted to be mounted on an exterior surface ofhousing 22 or elsewhere where it is in direct contact with theatmosphere and directly exposed to the suns rays striking the area to beprotected.

Thermostat 144 comprises a sensing bulb 146 of a conventionalconstruction having a hollow interior filled with a heat expandableliquid or gas and having a flexible conduit 148 communicating with theinterior of the bulb and leading to a bellows 15%). Bellows 150 ispivotally connected to a switch lever 152 by means of an arm 154. Switcharm 152 is supported on a collar 156 threadedly mounted on an adjustingscrew 158 in turn threadedly engaged in a supporting post 166 secured ina housing 95a. The free end of switch lever 152 is disposed between apair of contacts 162 and 164 to which are connected wires 83a and 900,the lever 152 being arranged to close circuits between an infeed line46a and lines 88a and 9&11. Wires 88a and 911a are associated withmanual switch 100, control lever 11d, and other portions of the motorcontrol circuit the same as illustrated in FIGURE 4. In other words, thecontrol mechanism shown in FIGURE 5 is employed in lieu of the photocell 48, the relay 56, and the relays 7 ti and 72.

Sensing bulb 144 is contained in a transparent cover or shield 166having a closed upper end and an open lower end. Such cover or shieldserves to dampen fluctuations in weather conditions or erratic ormomentary exposure to the direct rays of the sun to accomplishsubstantially the same delay of operation of the motor as do the relays'70 and 72in the FIGURE 4 embodiment. For example, it will be assumedthat weather conditions are mostly sunny with an occasional cloud in thesky.

In this sunny condition, the fluid in the bulb 14-6 is heatedsufficiently to expand the fluid and operate the bellows to move theswitch arm 152 into contact 164 which causes the awning to be lowered.If a cloud should shade the assembly 144 only temporarily the residualheat around the bulb 146 which is trapped by the insulating cover 166will prevent the bulb from instantaneously cooling. Instead, theresidual heat within the cover 166 maintains an expansion of the liquidin the line 148 and a single small cloud, for example, will not cause araising of the awning. After a selected cloudy or cool period, however,heat will escape from the interior of cover 166 and the bulb 146 willcool and permit the switch 152 to re verse.

The cover 166 also prevents instantaneous action by the bulb 146 in aninverse condition. That is, if the sky is generally cloudy with a fewsunny patches the insulation caused by the cover 166 will not permitinstantaneous heating of the bulb. The delay resulting from the cover166 thus prevents repeated up and down movement of the awning by briefchanges in weather conditions.

Adjustment of the collar 156 on the screw 158 is accomplished toselectively position the switch arm 152 with relation to the contacts162 and 164 to control the sensitivity of operation of the electricalmeans in one direction or the other of awning travel.

Thus, in accordance with the principles of the present invention anawning is caused to respond to weather conditions for covering oruncovering a window as necessary. The important feature however residesin the fact that the control means for the awning is not responsive tobrief weather changes. It is to be understood that the forms of ourinvention herein shown and described are to be taken as preferredexamples of the same and that various changes in the shape, size andarrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from thespirit of our invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. An electrically controlled awning assembly comprising an awningarranged for movement between open and closed positions, electric motormeans arranged to drive the awning to open and closed positions, anelectric circuit for said electric motor means including a pair ofauxiliary circuits, one of said auxiliary circuits being arranged tooperate said electric motor means to produce opening movement of saidawning and said other auxiliary circuit being arranged to operate saidelectric motor means to produce closing movement of said awning, weathersensing means in said circuit operable to control the opening andclosing driving movements of said electric motor means, and a delayrelay in each of said auxiliary circuits arranged to delay actuation ofsaid motor means for a selected time after a controlling signal fromsaid sensing means.

2. Operating means for driving an awning between open and closedpositions comprising electric motor means arranged to drive the awningto open and closed positions, an electric circuit for said electricmotor means including a pair of auxiliary circuits, one of saidauxiliary circuits being arranged to operate said electric motor meansto produce opening movement of said awning and said other auxiliarycircuit being arranged to operate said electric motor means to produceclosing movement of said awning, weather sensing means in said circuitoperable to control the opening and closing driving movements of saidelectric motor means, and a delay relay in each of said auxiliarycircuits arranged to delay actuation of said motor means for a selectedtime after a controlling signal from said sensing means.

3. Operating means for driving an awning between open and closedpositions comprising electric motor means operating a drive shaft fordriving the awning to open and closed positions, an electric circuit forsaid electric motor means including a pair of auxiliary circuits, one ofsaid auxiliary circuits being arranged to operate said electric motormeans to produce opening movement of said awning and said otherauxiliary circuit being arranged to operate said electric motor means toproduce closing movement of said awning, weather sensing means in saidcircuit operable to control the opening and closing driving movements ofsaid electric motor means, and a limit switch operated by said driveshaft and arranged to open said auxiliary circuits at the end of theopen and closed positions of the awning, said limit switch havingadjustment means thereon for varying the extent of opening and closingdriving movements of said electric motor means.

4. Operating means for driving an awning between open and closedpositions comprising electric motor means arranged to drive the awningto open and closed positions, an electric circuit for said electricmotor means including a pair of auxiliary circuits, one of saidauxiliary circuits being arranged to operate said electric motor meansto produce opening movement of said awning and said other auxiliarycircuit being arranged to operate said electric motor means to produceclosing movement of said awning, thermostat means operable on saidcircuit to control the opening and closing driving movements of saidelectric motor means, and a casing over said thermostat to delaytemperature influence on said thermostat.

5. The operating means of claim 4 wherein said thermostat meanscomprises a sensing bulb containing a heat expandable fluid, and bellowmeans operated by said expandable fluid and in turn causing selectedoperation of said auxiliary circuits to energize said electric motormeans in opening or closing drive movements of the awning.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,226,696 5/1917Ramseur 318-471 X 2,055,511 9/1936 Twiss -310 X 2,111,009 3/1938 Smith160-5 2,149,481 3/1939 Van Bosch et al 160-5 X 2,463,469 3/1949 Sherwood318-484 X 2,496,574 2/1950 Boger a- 318-484 X 3,042,001 7/ 1962 Dubie eta1 160-5 X HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

P. M. CAUN, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED AWNING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AN AWNINGARRANGED FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS, ELECTRIC MOTORMEANS ARRANGED TO DRIVE THE AWNING TO OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS, ANELECTRIC CIRCUIT FOR SAID ELECTRIC MOTOR MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OFAUXILIARY CIRCUITS, ONE OF SAID AUXILIARY CIRCUITS BEING ARRANGED TOOPERATE SAID ELECTRIC MOTOR MEANS TO PRODUCE OPENING MOVEMENT OF SAIDAWNING AND SAID OTHER AUXILIARY CIRCUIT BEING ARRANGED TO OPERATE SAIDELECTRIC MOTOR MEANS TO PRODUCE CLOSING MOVEMENT OF SAID AWN-